The O'Jays, "You're On Top" c/w "Lovely Dee," Imperial 66037 (rel. 6/1964)

Here's an odd one from The O'Jays. In the early to mid 1960s, they were Imperial Records' attempt at a Drifters/Impressions-type hitmaking r&b/soul vocal group. They had a few hit singles and Imperial released an LP on them, Comin' Through. They recorded early songs by Randy Newman, Van McCoy and Allen Toussaint, among their own group compositions and the odd item thrown at them by their producers.

In the summer of 1964, they recorded a cover version of a 1961 single that appeared on Imperial's sister imprint, Liberty Records by a group called The Untouchables. Those guys were a hard-working vocal group who went under many names. Chester Pipkin, Brice Cofield, Richard Spencer and Billy Storm are all over the place in early 1960s r&b. Give them a recording contract, they'd cook up a new group name and have at it. Their songs and performances are solid but it appears they suffered a group-wide inferiority complex. Had they settled on one persona and stuck with it, they could have make it on their own merits.

Why The O'Jays recorded these three-year-old songs is lost to time. My guess is that someone owed someone a favor, and this single paid that debt. There's nothing wrong with this record; the group delivers solid performances that don't betray any resentment or obligation.

These lads from Canton, Ohio, had bounced around from label to label since their first singles as The Mascots for King Records in 1960. They switched to the O'Jays (inspired by America's beloved breakfast beverage?) for a one-off 45 with Apollo Records and then their third single, first issued on Little Star, was picked up by Imperial. This led to a three-year run, with their final Imperial 45 a reissue of their 1963 single "Lonely Drifter." They switched to the revived Minit label for a 1967 single that's become a Northern Soul favorite. This iteration of The O'Jays ends with that release.

"You're on Top" is a bittersweet song narrated by a man who sees his ex living the high life while he sulks in the lower depths. He'd take her back in a heartbeat if she'd have him. And that, as they say, is the question.

"Lovely Dee" is a happy bouncer with a gospel feel, solid harmony vocals and a big guitar sound that sounds like a potential hit to these ears. It failed in its two attempts as a mere B-side; its performance reveals the showmanship of a fine vocal group who didn't mind tackling a necessity and giving it a solid go.

Cash Box gave this single a disgruntled, cursory review in their July 4, 1964 edition. The existing digital version is unreadable without great effort and not worth the bother.

Tomorrow: hyperactive pop rockabilly by David Houston with some tasty guitar, via a 1957 RCA-Victor single. Unusually raw for this label!